Not sure if you’ve noticed, but there are four new electric vehicle (EV) charging stations going in at the Queen Ka’ahumanu Center parking lot near the Ka’ahumanu Ave. entrance (fronting Ruby’s, but much closer to the road). The chargers, according to a recent news release from Nishikawa & Associates, which handles public relations for the Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB), are part of the new JUMPSmartMaui “demonstration project” that will use electric vehicles, smart grid tech and renewable energy:

“Set to begin in July, JUMPSmartMaui is funded by Japan’s largest public research and development organization, the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization of Japan (NEDO) and led by Hitachi Ltd. in partnership with the Maui Electric Co./Hawaiian Electric Co, County of Maui, Maui Economic Development Board, Hawaii Department of Business Economic Development & Tourism, and Hawaii Natural Energy Institute.”

In any case, the chargers don’t look too attractive now–being all wrapped in black plastic and such–but a new contest for Maui County students in grades six through 12 being sponsored by Hitachi and the MEDB should sharpen them up very soon.

“The artist can choose to create either one design that will go on both the front and back charger panels or create two complimentary [sic] designs that will go on the front and back panels,” stated a May 9 news release from Nishikawa & Associates. “Each panel is 13.5” wide x 65” high. Artwork must be created in either Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop. File formats accepted are: Adobe Illustrator EPS, or Photoshop EPS (300 dpi resolution) or PDF (300 dpi resolution).”

Did we mention there are very generous prizes for the winners? First place gets a prize package worth $1,000; second place gets $500 worth of prizes; and third place gets a prize package worth $250.

All submissions should include the student’s name, school, grade, mailing address, phone number and email address. The deadline is June 1, 2013 (the announcement of the winning image will take place at the mall on June 15).